Two Disciples colleges will host programs encouraging students to contemplate ethics and vocation, thanks in part to grants awarded by HELM.

The College/University Grant funds special projects at undergraduate institutions related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that will benefit the relationship between the institution and the church as a whole. Funds for the grants are provided by the colleges and universities themselves, who put a portion of the money they are allocated from general denominational funding into this special fund. New grants are made each year by the HELM Board of Directors following applications from the schools.

Columbia College received $14,800 for its summer ethics academy. The college has emphasized ethics courses in recent years, and this program will offer additional three-week training to 10 high-school students. Columbia received a similar College/University Grant for a workshop on teaching ethics in 2003.

Lynchburg College received $5,000 to fund the next step of a vocational discernment program. The college plans to establish a series of retreats to help students address vocational issues. Lynchburg hopes to reach each student with this program. Establishing a campus-wide peer-mentoring group using freshmen student orientation leaders is another element of the program.

Grants are made only for projects that represent new initiatives beyond present programming. Including this year's proposals, the program has funded 85 projects. Each institution in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has received at least one grant during the program's history.